Doughnut cooking machine



Feb. 8, 1938. c. E. CARPENTER DOUGHNUT COOKING MACHINE Original Filed May 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 aib@ 74 W 52 oooo 4 o oo Feb. 8, 1938. c. E. CARPENTER 2,107,325

DOUGHNUT COOKING MACHINEV Original Filed May 6, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1938. C. E, CARPENTER 2,107,325

DOUGHNUT COOKYING'MACHINE Original Filed May 6, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gywwm Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Continuation oi' application Serial No. 669,641, May 6, 1933. This application January 21,

1935, Serial No. 2,728

30 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvementin cooking devices and is applicable for example in cooking doughnuts. One object is the provision of means for cooking the individual article to be cooked during a single passage of the article about a predetermined circuit. Another object is the provision of improved conveying means for conveying the article around the circuit. Another object is the provision of4 improved means for turning the article after it has been cooked on one side. Another object is the provision of improved ejector means for ejecting the article from the cooking cycle. Another object is the provision of improved drive means for the device above described. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

The present application is a continuation of my application, Ser. No. 669,641, led May 6, 1933.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is a partial plan view on an enlarged scale;

. Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

, Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line 1-1 i 35 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 -of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a variant form;

Figure 11 is a section on the line II--Il of Figures 10 and 12;

Figure 12 is a section on the line |2-I2 of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a section on the line `I3---I3 of Figure 12.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to the form of Figures 1 and following, A generally indicates any suitable frame or container, with any suitable bottom A1 beneath which is any suitable burner or heating device A2 for heating the body of grease A3 normally within the container during use. A4 are any supportingA legs.

B is an outer upward extension or bracket mounted on the frame A which includes any suitable discharge device B1.the details of which do 5 not of themselves form part of the present invention, whereby doughnuts or other articles to be cooked can be discharged. B2 is any suitable sprocket mounted on the shaft B3, for actuating the doughnut discharge device, and B4 is the 10 discharge nozzle.

Mounted for rotation about vertical axes within the container A are the sprockets C, C1. It will be observed that the sprocket C, shown atthe right end of Figure 2, is positionedbeneath 15 the discharge member B4 and serves to receive the blanked raw doughnuts as they are discharged to the grease. Passing around the sprockets C, C1, is any suitable endless chain or conveyor generally indicated as C2 which is provided with inwardly extending iiightsC3 oi' any suitable form or cross-section. The iiights may for example be angle irons and may be mounted upon brackets C4 extending upwardly from any suitable links in or members of the chain. It will be understood that when the blanks are iirst suitable dropped in the grease they are heavier than the grease and sink to the bottoml and are received on and rotated by the sprocket C. Shortly, by

the inuence of heat, they pop up and rise and from then on vare conveyed along the surface of the grease by contact with the ights C3. As will be clear from the i'lgures herein the iiights extend inwardly a suiiicient distance so that the space between each pair of nights is a pocket from which the iioating doughnut or article cannot escape. The space between opposed straight extensions of the belt may be borne by any suitable upstanding flanges C5 which not merely dellmit the channels for the moving articles, but 40 -serve as supports for the driving mechanism later to be described, and also serve to hold ledgesV Cs for supporting the ends of the ights C3.

E diagrammatically indicates any suitable motor, the drive shaft E1, and drive sprockets li!2 45 thereon. About one of these drive sprockets extends a chain E3 which extends about the sprocket B2, earlier mentioned, which drives the discharge mechanism for the raw doughnut blanks.

E4 is a second belt or chain extending about 50 4the driven sprocket-E5 on the shaft E. Pivoted to said sprocket E5 is a link E'I the outer end of which is pivoted as at E to a slide element E9 shown in some detail in Figure 5. The slide includes an abutment plate El opposed to 55 one side of the chain, a flange E11 and a dog E12 on said flange actuated by a spring E13 to oppose the chain in such fashion that when the slide E10 moves to the right, referring to the position in which the parts are shown in Figure 9, the dog E12 engages a link or cross bar of the chain and thrusts the chain against the plate E10. When .the slide moves in the opposite direction, when the sprocket E5 rotates, the spring E12 permits the dog to act as an over-running clutch element. Thus, in response to rotation of the sprocket E5, and the consequent reclprocation of the slide E9, the belt or chain C2 is given a unidirectional step by step movement timed in relation to the rotation of the motor shaft or of the sprocket E5.

Pivoted to the sprocket E5 is a drive link G with the lost motion I or slot G1 at the opposite end. G2 indicates a transverse shaft mounted to one end of which is a bell crank lever having one arm G5 terminating in a pin G4 penetrating the slot G1. The other arm G5 is secured to a spring G6 which tends normally to impart a counterclockwise rotation of the shaft G2, referring to the parts in the position in which they are shown in Figure 1. As the sprocket E5 rotates from the position in which it is shown in Figure l, from the direction-of the arrow, the slot G1 permits movement of the link G without aectlng the position of theA shaft G2. When the sprocket has made in the neighborhood of one-half a revolution, so that the link G is located on the opposite periphery of the sprocket from that in which it is shown in Figure 1, then the lower end of thel G2 and held against rotation in relation therewith is a lever member G1 to which is secured a pull rod G as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pull rod extending to the slotted sliding member G9 upon the rotary shaft G10. Secured to this rotary shaft is a turning device which includes a perforated upper plate G11 and a perforated lower plate G12 joined at one end by a side plate G13. The outer edge is left open, as is clear from Figure 7, to permit the penetration between the two plates of the individual flights C3 of the chain C2. Referring to Figure 8, note that the shaft G10penetrates the slotted sliding member G2 and longitudinal movement of the member G9 by means of the pull rod G11 is limited by the length of the slot. Pivotally. mounted upon the sliding member G1 are two pawls G15 which are held by means of springs G15 in engagement with the ratchet wheel G11 keyed to the shaft G10. The parts are so proportioned to rotate the shaft G10 through an angle of 180 degrees each time the pull rod G5 is actu- -ated by means of the link G and associated parts.

Note that an arcuate member G14 is provided adjacent the plates G11 and G12, whereby any escape of the doughnut from between the plates during the turning process is prevented. As the outer edge of the space between the plates G11 and G12 is open, the flights can pass freely therethrough and carry the doughnuts on through from between the plates G11 and G11 after the plates have rotated through an angle of 180 degrees to turn the half cooked doughnuts.

In order to eject the doughnuts at the end of the cooking excursion I provide the following mechanism. Mounted on thevend of the shaft G2 is a bevel gear H which is in mesh with the corresponding bevel gear H1 on the shaft H2. Mounted on the shaft H2 are a plurality of fingers E the position of which is shown in Figure 6.

lbracket K11.

The lower ends of the fingers are in normal horlzontal position as at H4, and at a level below the normal position of the flights and doughnuts. H indicates a plurality of fingers downwardly and outwardly inclined each from an arcuate section H5. The ngers H3 and H5 are staggered in relation to each other, as is shown in Figure 3. Therefore, at each rotation of the shaft G2 the fingers H3 and their doughnut engaging portions H4 will be lifted from the full line of Figure 6 to the dotted line of Figure 6, passing between the fixed ngers H5 and H5. The doughnutsare thereby dropped upon the downwardly inclined portions H5 and are discharged to any suitable receiving device. This movement or discharge of 'the doughnuts is well indicated in Figure 6.

'I'hus the motor E through the driving mechanism above described performs several separate functions. Through'the chain E1 it drives the mechanism for discharging the raw blanks to the grease. Through the sprocket E5 and the link E1 it actuates the slide E2 and imparts to the chain C2 its unidirectional step by step movement. Through the link or rod G11 it actuates the turning mechanism, the plates G11 and G12 and turns each doughnut after the doughnut has been carried by the flights around the cooking circuit to that point. The doughnut is cooked first on one'side primarily, since it floats higher ln the grease, as shown for example in Figure 4. Then finally, through the bevel gear H and the shaft H2 the cooked doughnuts are expelled from the circuit at a point justshort of the point Where the raw doughnuts are added. Thus there is always a doughnut between each pair of flights and the cooking sequence may be constantly maintained,

Referring to the modified form of Figures and following I illustrate a single large container J in which are positioned two pairs of sprockets J1, J1 and J2, J2. About each of the pairs of sprockets passes the chain J3 with flights J4 on it which will be understood to be substantially the same as the chains and flights shown in the earlier figures. The flights of the chains, however, project outwardly instead of inwardly. The outer ends of the flights are supported on angles or guides J5 conforming generally to the desired path of the doughnuts to be cooked.

K indicates a motor having a compound driving function. It has two driving sprockets K1, K2. About K1 passes a belt K3 from which is driven the sprocket K4 on the shaft K5. This shaft terminates in a bevel gear K5 which drives the pinion K1 which in turn drives the gear K0 which actuates the doughnut expelling mechanism in any suitable fashion. The details of the expellingmechanism do not of themselves form part of the present invention. I illustrate, however, a large gear K10 in mesh with the gear K9 by rotating in unison with the bevel gear K0 the Whole being mounted on a hinged or rotating K12 indicates the hopper for the dough.

L indicates Va driven shaft having secured to it a sprocket L1 about which passes a drive chain L2 driven by the sprocket K2. The shaft L performs several driving functions. In the first place, it is provided with two diametrically opposed crank voffsets L2, L4. L5 is a link pivoted to the crank L3 at one end and pivoted to the slide L5 at the other. Through'the dog L1 it drives one of the chains J3. An identical structure including the linkI L*1s1ide'L9 and dog L10 drives the other chain, each chain being given each of the discs O6, O7 consisting each of a pair Y a step by step movement in response to rotation of the shaft L. The structure as shown moves the chains alternately, one chain pausing while the other is advanced a step and vice versa. `At each end of the crank L is a rotary cam member M with a cam slot or track M1 adapted to engage any suitable cam member MZ associated with the shaft M3 provided with ejector fingers M4. It will be understood that these fingers have the same function as the ilngers H3, H4 as shown in Figure 6, and that rotation of the shaft M3 in response to rotation of the cam member M effects the ejection of the cooked doughnuts. M5 is a link pivoted at one end, eccentrically, to the end of one of the rotary cam members M as at Ms at the top of Figure 10. It is secured at the opposite end to a lever M7 which is held in relation to the lever Ma which, by means of a link or rod M9 swings the ejector or dough hopper K12 back and forth from the full line to the dotted line position and back, in response to rotation of' the shaft L. It

will be understood that the mechanism is so timed that the ejector will deposit a doughnut alternately for conveying by each belt, one dough ejector being sufficient for the two belts.

Toward the middle of the shaft L is an eccentric member O surrounded by the yoke O1 which communicates with the rod O2 which terminates in arack O3 in mesh with a pinion O4 on the shaft O5. O25 is any suitable pin to prevent the rack O3 from lifting out of mesh with the pinion O4. 'I'his structure is shown in detail in Figures 12 and 13. The shaft O5 of course rotates in unison with the pinion O4. It has mounted on each end of it flanged discs O6, OI each such disc being provided with diametrically opposed slots O8 adapted to be engaged by the yieldingly thrust friction pins O9 thrust by the springs O10. An overrunning clutch connection is provided for of diametrically opposed notches O21 in the shaft O5 opposed by a spring thrust plunger O12 actuated by the spring O13, the plunger and spring being mounted in members O14. It will thus be understood that movement of the rack O3 in one direction will -rotate one of the discs whereas movement of the rack O3 in the opposite direc,

tion will rotate the other disc, the discs rotating in opposite directions and one disc rotating while the other is at rest. Preferably the member O14 is madeintegral with or at least is held against movement in relation to the disc O6 or O'I with which it is associated. As shown in Figures 11 and 12 I employ top and bottom plates O15, O16 which are mounted adjustably to provide for adjustment to take doughnuts or members of greater or lesser thickness. I illustrate for example rotatable screwthreaded studs.O17 rotatable for example by the squared heads O18. Thus the plates O15, O16 may be adjusted to any desired separation.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, numberand disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing. In particular I wish it to be understood that where I employ the term doughnu I wish it to cover any article which can practically be cooked in a cooker of the type herein shown and not merely the conventional doughnut. Also, where I employ the term plate in connection with the turning device it will be understood that any member which functions like the plate shown is intended to be covered, the term plate being used for convenience.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I provide an endless chain or conveyor with a plurality of flights. The chains C2 of Figure 2 or the chains J3' of Figure 10 are both actuated by reciprocated slides E9, L9 or L6, whereby each chain is imparted a uni-directional step by stepA movement. In each case the raw doughnut is ejected into the hot grease. In the form of Fig-` ure 2 it is prevented from sinking all the way to the bottom by engaging the gear C. The same or simi1ar.means may be employed in connection with the other form but are not shown. In both forms, however, the doughnut is conveyed as it floats by engagement with flights projecting from the endless chains. At a certain point in the movement of the doughnut it is turned by ro. tation of the plates G11, G12 of Figure 4 and the plates O15, O1?, of Figure 12. Then after the other side of the doughnut has been cooked the doughnut is ejected from the cooking cycle by actuation of the fingers H3, H4 of Figure 6 or the flngers M4 of Figure 10, the fingers being shown prior to ejection at the top of Figure 10 and after ejection at the bottom of Figure 10.

In the form of Figures 10 and following, I have illustrated instead of a single chain machine a multiple chain machine but with a single dough feeding or ejecting mechanism K12 which automatically swings from chain to chain depositing alternately with each chain. In the form of Figures 10 and following the two chains are shown as moving alternately and the reversing mechanisms for the two chains move alternately as is shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13. It will be realized, of course, that this structure is illustrative and that I do not wish to be limited thereto-except to the extent that I limit myself bythe precise limitations of my claims.

I claim: l

l. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said fluid, an endless conveyor chain and means for moving said chain through a predetermined path, and conveying flights on said chain, said flights being secured at one end only to said chain and being positioned in operative relation to articles cooking in said fluid.

2. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said fluid, an endless conveyor chain and means for moving said chain through a predetermined path,

' being positioned in operative relation to articles cooking in said fluid and means additional to the chain for supporting the outer ends of said flights, including flanges along which said flights are adapted to slide. A

4. In a cooking device,.a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said fluid, an endless conveyor chain and means for moving said chain through a predetermined path lying in a horizontal plane, and flights on said chain said nights moving in a horizontal plane adjacent the surface of the cooking fluid.

5. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means forl heating" said fluid, a conveyor and means for moving said conveyor through a predetermined path lying in a horizontal plane, and conveying nights on said conveyor said nights moving in a horizontal plane adjacent the surface of the cooking nuid, said nights being connected at one end only to said conveyor, and turning means for the articles undergoing cooking, including a'pair of spaced plates normally in horizontal position, said plates beingpositioned above and below the .path of movement of said flights, whereby said flights may pass therebetween, and means for periodically turning said plates at a time when no nights are positioned therebetween.

6. In a. cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said nuid, a conveyor and means for moving said conveyor, and conveying flights on said conveyor, adapted to move in a horizontal plane, and turning means for the articles conveyed by said flights, including a pair of spaced plates through which the nights may pass, and means for turning said plates'when an article to be turned is between said plates and at a time when no night is passing between said plates.

7. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said fluid, a conveyor and means for moving said conveyor, and conveying nights on Said conveyor, adapted to move in a horizontal plane, turning means for the articles conveyed by said nights, in-

cluding a pair of spaced plates through which the flights may pass, and means for turning said plates when an article to be turned is between said plates and at a time when no night is passing between said plates, and means for preventing the escape of the article being turned during the turning operation. A

8. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said nuid, a conveyor and means for moving said conveyor, and conveying nights on said conveyor, adapted to move-in a horizontal plane, turning means for the articles conveyed by said nights, including a pair of spaced plates through which the nights may pass, and means for turning vsaid plates when an article to be turned is between said plates and at a time when no night is passing between said plates, and means for preventing the escape of the article being turned during the turning operation, including a generally arcuate plate surrounding the path of movement of the turning plates.

9. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said fluid, means for feeding the articles to be cooked to said fluid, and means for turning said articles while permitting the articles to float in the cooking fluid, including a plurality of spaced plates, means for conveying the articles to be turned between said plates, and means for turning said plates.

10. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said nuid, means for feeding the articles to be cooked to said fluid, and means for turning said articles while permitting the articles to noat in the cooking fluid, including a plurality of spaced plates,

means for conveying the articles to be turned between said plates, and means for turning said plates, about an axis adjacent the surface of the cooking fluid.

11. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said fluid, means for feeding the articles to be cooked to said fluid, and means for turning said articles while the articles are noating in the cooking nuid, including a plurality of spaced plates, means for conveying the articles to be turned between said plates, and means for turning said plates, and means for varying the separation between said plates.

12. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said nuid, means for feeding the articles to be cooked to said nuid, means for conveying the articles through said nuid, including a conveyor and means for actuating it, and a sprocket, about which said conveyor passes, said sprocket being positioned beneath the surface of' the cooking nuid and being generally aligned with the feeding means and being adapted to receive the articles fed at a. time when their buoyancy is insunlcient to cause them to noat in the cooking fluid.

13. In a cooking device, a plurality of conveyors and means for actuating them, a body of cooking nuid in operative relation with the articles conveyed by each of said conveyors, and means for heating the nuid, and unitary means effective to feed the articles to be cooked to both conveyors, and means for moving said feeding means alternately over each conveyor.

14. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said fluid, means for feeding the articles to be cooked to said nuid, a conveyor adapted to convey the articles so fed along a generally horizontal rectilinear path as they float in the cooking nuld, and means, positioned at the end of the conveying path, for ejecting the cooked articles, including a plurality of fingers normally positioned below the level of the articles undergoing cooking, means for lifting them and the articles to be ejected to a point above the nuid and means for receiving the articles so ejected.

- 15. In a cooking device, a'container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said nuid, means for feeding the articles to be cooked to said nuid, a conveyor adapted to convey the articles so fed along a generally horizontal pathv las they float in the cooking nuid and means for electing the cooked articles including a plurality of nngers normally positioned below the level ofl the articles undergoing cooking, means for lifting them and the articles to be ejected to a point above the nuid and means for receiving the articles so ejected, including a plurality of inclined' fingers staggered in relation to the ejecting nngers.

16. In a doughnut cooking device, a plurality of'sprockets rotatable about vertical and generally parallel axes, a belt element passing about said sprockets, driving means for causing a step by step movement of said belt element, a plurality of nights, each night being mounted at one end on said belt element, said nights projecting inwardly fro nights are ersed and means for heating the livering raw doughnuts to said nights at a presaid belt, a container in which said4 determined point along the path of movement of said nights and means for turning said dough! nuts after they have been conveyed a predetermined distance along the path of movement of said nights, and means for discharging said doughnuts after a predetermined travel beyond predetermined path, while permitting said articles tc noat freely in the cooking nuid, and means for turning said articles, while floating freely in the cooking nuid, said articles while being turned being sustained in the nuid in response to their own buoyancy.

19. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said nuid, means for feeding to said nuid the articles to be cooked, said articles being'rendered buoyant by cooking, and means for turning said articles, while permitting the articles to noat in the cooking nuid, with the buoyancy of the articles determining their position in the nuid during the turning movement.

20. In avcooking device, a plurality of flexible endless conveyors and means for actuating them, saidconveyors extending in general parallelism and including yguiding members rotatable about vertical axes, a body of cooking nuid in operative relation with the articles conveyed by each of said conveyors, means for heating the nuid, and

unitary means effective to feed the articles to be cooked to both conveyors, said means being movably mounted adjacent said conveyors, and means for positioning it in succession in operative relation with each conveyor.

21. In a cooking device, a plurality of flexible endless conveyors and means for actuating them, said conveyors extending in general parallelism and including guiding members rotatable about vertical axes, a body of cooking fluid in operative relation with the articles conveyed by each of said conveyors, means for heating the nuid,y means for turning the articles undergoing cooking, said means including a turning device associated with each conveyor, said turning devices being adjacent each other, and unitary means for actuating them.

22. In a cooking device, a container adaptedl to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said fluid, an endless conveyor chain and means for guiding said chain through a predetermined path, nights on said chain, moving in a horizontal path adjacent 'the surface of the cooking nuid, means for imparting to said chain and flights a step by step conveying movement, means for turning the articles undergoing cooking, including a turning member normally positioned out of 'the path of termining their position in the nuid during the turning movement, a conveyor adapted ,to move said articles' forwardly while they are noating in the cooking nuid, said turning means being positioned in the line of movement of said conveyor, means for imparting to said conveyor and the articles arstep by step movement, and means for actuating the turning means between the steps of movement of the conveyor.

24. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking fluid, means for heating said nuid, means for feeding the articles to. be cooked to said nuid, means for conveying the articles through said fluid, including a conveyor and means for actuating it, said conveyor including nights positioned adjacent the surface of the cooking nuid, and an additional conveying means including an extended horizontal article supporting surface rotatable about a vertical axis, positioned substantially below the surface of the cooking fluid to receive and convey the articles fed at a time when their buoyancy is insunicient to cause them to float in the cooking nuid submerged in said nuid beneath the path of movement of said conveyor flights whereby when buoyant, said articles will rise to the surface of the nuid in position to be engaged by said nights.

25. In a cooking device, a container adapted to receive a cooking nuid, means for heating said f nuid, means for feeding the articles to be cooked to said nuid, means for conveying the articles through said nuid, including a conveyor and means for actuating it, said conveyor including nights positioned adjacent the surface of the cooking nuid, said conveyor actuating means including a sprocket gear positioned substantially below the surface of the cooking nuid and rotatable about a vertical axis, said sprocket gear having a horizontally disposed web portion positioned to receive and convey the articles fed at a time when their buoyancy is insuincient to cause them to float in the cooking nuid submerged ir. said nuid beneath the path of movement of said conveyor nights whereby when buoyant, said articles will rise to the surface of the nuid in position to be engaged by said nights, said sprocket gear being movable in unison with the first mentionedl conveyor.

26. A doughnut cooking machine comprising a receptacle for cooking liquid, a doughnut former" positioned and operable to deposit doughnuts in the liquid at a predetermined point and at dennite intervals, a single, uni-directional conveyor for directing the doughnuts through the machine in a predetermined direction of movement, and a device located in the course of travel of the doughnuts for turning them over, said device being intermittently operable and adapted to turn the doughnuts in the section of the conveyor in which they travel to said turning device.

27. vIn apparatus for handling doughnuts anoat at the surface of the cooking liquor, the combination of means for feeding along or progressing the noating doughnuts comprising a succession of traveling pushers with spaces for doughnuts between them; and a turnover device arranged to turn about a substantially horizontal axis approximately at the surface of the cooking liquor, and comprising upper and lower engagement'members anording space between them for passage of said pushers and of the doughnuts, but adapted to engage the floating doughnuts on top and underneath and turn them over, successively, about said horizontal axis, by turning movement of said device between the pushers associated with each doughnut so turned.

28. A turnover device, for doughnuts afloat on -the cooking liquor, comprising a fork mounted and arranged to turn about a substantially horizontal axis approximately at the surface of the cooking liquor and embodying a pair of prongs oppositely offset from said axis and adapted and arranged to engage a floating doughnut on top and underneath, respectively, and thus turn it over about said horizontal axis when the fork is correspondingly turned thereabout.

29. In apparatus for handling doughnuts afloat at the surface of cooking liquor, the combination of means for .feeding along or progressing the floating doughnuts comprising a moving support with a series of pusher arms projecting horizontally therefrom, approximately atthe surface of the liquor, with spaces for doughnuts between them; and a turnover device comprising a twoprong fork mounted and arranged to turn about a substantially horizontal axis approximately in line with the passing pusher arms, with its prongs directed toward said moving support and overlapping said pusher arms, but oppositely os'et from the fork axis and affording space between them for passage of said pusher arms and of the doughnuts, adapted to engage the floating doughnuts on top and underneath and turn them over, successively, about said horizontal axis, by a turning movement of said fork between the pushers associated with4 each doughnut so turned.

30. In apparatus for handling doughnuts afloat at the surface of the cooking liquor, the combination of means for feeding along or progress? ing the floating doughnuts comprising a succession of travelling pushers with spaces for doughnuts between them; a turnover device arranged` to turn about a substantially horizontal axis approximately atthe surface of the cooking liquor, and comprising upper and lower engagement members aording space between them for passage of said pushers and of the doughnuts, but

' adapted to engage the floating doughnuts on top CHARLES E. CARPENTER. 

